Pencil sharpener



`Iam. 6, 1953 M.YTAL| 2,624,317

i PENCIL SHARPENER Filed sept. 7, 1949 v 5 sheets-sheet 1 AiarneysJan.'6, 1953 M. TALL. 2,624,317

PENCIL SHARPENER Filed sept. '7, 1949 s sheets-shed 2 ,45 I i@ vfNri/ENTOR. BY 91' L11/muzi v Aff/11726975 M. TALL PENCIL SHARPENER Jan.6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed sept. 7, 1949 Alfani @ys atented jan. 6",1,953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL SHARPENER.

Murry Tall, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application September 7, 1949, Serial No. 114,310

(Cl. 1Z0-96) 20 Claims.

The present invention relates to pencil sharpeners of the type havingrotary cutters operated by planetary gearing and adapted to be operatedeither manually or by an electric motor.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a pencilSharpener of the typevindicated, having improved means whereby thelength and shape of the point on the sharpened pencil can be regulatedto suit the type of pencilv and the manner in which the pencil is to beused.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provideimproved stop means of such construction that the clearance between thestop and the cutters of the Sharpener remains practically constant forall positions of the stop, whereby breakage of the pencil point andchewing of the pencil through accidental insertion of the pencil pointbetween the stop and the cutter are prevented.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved meansincluding a dial for setting the stop at its various selected positions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a stop device which canbe operated either from the inside or the outside of the chips orgrindings-receiving container or casing, and which is of arcuate formand of varying thickness, and is so mounted that successive portionsthereof of increasing or diminishing thickness can be introduced betweenthe cutters in a manner to present an increased thickness where a stubpoint is to be produced, andA a diminished thickness where a fine pointis to be obtained.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a reliable andsimplified mechanism for operating the stop by way of a dial having aneccentric groove from which the stop is controlled.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved dial andpointer assembly associated with the stop, wherein the pointer isiixedly positioned above .the rotatable dial and is provided with aprotuberance adapted to engage in a series of grooves or notches in thedial to indicate the position of the adjusted stop, the pointer being insprung condition, so as to snap into the successive notches in themanner of a detent.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pivotedadjustable stop of arcuate form which is so shaped that. in'all adjustedpositions thereof, a stop surface is presented between the cutters whichis substantially normal to the pencil point, so that a positive stoppingaction is provided andA danger of slipping Iof 'the pencil point alongthe stop eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pencil Sharpener havingadjustable stop means wherein the stop means can be controlled byrotation of a knob outside of the casing and adjacent to the operatinghandle of the Sharpener.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description thereof.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a satisfactory embodiment of theinvention. In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a rear end view of a pencil VSharpener constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a frontend view of the sharpener;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the base and is taken along the line 4-4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the cutter mechanism and supporting frametherefor, with the adjustable stop and the mechanism for operating thesame mounted on such frame, the view being partly in section;

Fig. '7 is a view along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an end View of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a view partly in section through a modified structure whereinthe stop device is controlled from outside the casing;

Fig. 10 is a view of the dial for indicating the selected position ofthe stop;

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are sections taken, respectively, along thelines of lI-l l,l l2-l2, l3-I3, and Ill-I4 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 15 is an exploded View of the stop adjusting andposition-indicating means.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals and letters indicatecorresponding parts, the reference character a indicates the base orsupport of the Sharpener which may be manufactured by die casting orotherwise. At its upper end the base is provided with a thread by meansof which the casing or chamber b for receiving the wood shavings isdetachably secured to the base.` At the front of the casing b there issupported the selector cV on a stub shaft d, the selector having anumber of apertures e for receiving pencils of different diameters. Theselector bears against a projection f and also against a spring-pressedball g. This is adapted to be received in a series of circulardepressions h on the rear surface of the selector c and acts as a detentto hold the selector in adjusted position. The base a is provided withan enlarged anchoring plate i which is of hollow construction and isprovided interiorly thereof with a plate 7' which can be made tocooperate with a flange or plate secured, for example, to a table topfor Securing the Sharpener to the latter. This flange or plate may bedirectly secured to a table top in spaced relation thereto or may formpart of a clamp k which is Ysecured to the edge of a table or the like,as by means of a thumbscrew 1. However, if desired, the base may besecured to a table, desk or the like by means of screws passing throughapertured bosses m integral with the base. The Sharpener can be operatedby means of a handle n, in known manner.

Referring now more particularly to Rigs. 6 to 8,`

the numeral I indicates the rotatable shaft of the pencil Sharpenerwhich is operated by the4 hand crank or by a motor (not shown). Theshaftis journalledin a bearing I Ia (Fig. 2) cast integrally Withthebasea, of the Sharpener. The shaft is secured at its right hand end, as seenin Fig. 6, to a frame I3 composed of endmembers I4 and I'5 connected bybars I S 'and I'I cast integrallyY therewith. `Between the enjd membersI4 and I5 are journalledV ajpair of Cutters I8,'w hicl 1 may be arrangedwith their axeslying in the same plane or in planes disposedat an acuteangle to eachother.' At their `innerenlsgthe shafts of the cutters areprovided with gears I9 which mesh in known manner with an internal gear2Ilj(1 ig. 2, but not'shovvn in detail) xed to thejbase of theSharpener. As will be apparent, upon rotation of the shaft I0, the frameI 3 willbe rotated about the axis of the shaftvhile. the cuttersla willhave bodily rotationY about, the Same and, by reason ofthe 'engagementofthe, gears I9. with the stationary internal gean 2 3, they will besimultaneously rotated about their own axes, as iswell understood intheart,

The. hilnlov'elistqn-rnecl1anism .0i the present invention 'is'`controlled f rQm; a, dial 2J .havinsin the. top 'Surface' theregfalscrissi Qfgfriumhered radial notches 22, the same 'being .tenin`niiiriber inthe example illustrated. The diai is, rotatably mountedlipari a. studliwhichmay be. foref tterd into a suitable openillgiri.the frame bar I or may becast Aintegrally with the frame. It ispreferably` provided with a shoulder 24 upon which the dial bears.Anindex o r pointer 25, provided withn @rectangular 's lot, receives thecorrespondingly shaped upwardl end o f the', stud 23, suchv endbeingthenrjstruck down over the pointer to secure the same inixedpositi'on onthe stud. The underside ofthe pointer is provided with an elongatedprotuberanceV 25 vwhich may be created by suitably notching thepointer,such elongated protuberance beingadapted to be received in thesuccessive notches or grooves 22. The pointer 25 is made of springmetal,such as a beryllium-copper alloy andv in its mounted positionv is insprung condition', so that theprotuberance 26 `vwill produceV aclick asit enters the successive notches 22; thereby indicating that the stopisin the selected position.

The underside oi thefdial 2I is provided with an eccentric groovemZfIwhich receives the end of the shorterarmj 28j of a bell-crank lever 29which is pivoted 'on afpin3lsuitably, journalled in a recess 3| in thebarV I6. The bar is providedwithvan elongated slot 32'in which thebellcrank lever moves.fas Shown best in Fig. 6.

The longer arm 33 of the above crank lever 29, constitutes thestopmember proper and as can be seen from Fig.' 7, is so positioned as to.

enter the wedge-shaped space between the cutters I3 at their left handor inner ends.

AS indicated -by the dotted line position of the bell-crank lever 29 inFig. 7, rotation of the dial 2i in clockwise or counterclockwisedirection will move the arm 2B of the lever radially inwardly oroutwardly, respectively. As this occurs, the stop arm 33 will recedeinto a narrower portion of the wedge-shaped space between the cutters ormove intov the wider portion of such space. As the position of the stop33 changes, the character of the point imparted to the sharpened pencilwill likewise change, depending upon whether such point iS permitted topenetrate to the extreme. left-hand end of the cutters I8, or isstoppedat a distance therefrom by the stop 33.

Accord-ing to a further feature of the present invention, the stop 33 isSo shaped that as it moves into wider portions of the wedge-shaped Spacebetween the. Gutters., it presents a wider surface' to the/penl pont forengagementthere- Wltlfl- All, the. Same, time.. the stop' takesv up .theincreasingcle'arance between vthe cutters softhat the clearancebetween'the stop4 andthe two cutters Y remains. Substantially. .constantIn. conse: quence, the danger of the pencil point being Caught.betweenftlie ,Stop andllleclltter, iselimi.- nated and`wasteful',chewingupiy of the pencil 1S pfefvelltlf .'-The S1591?.,es'elvesigCentelr the perle. properly and; uiiiormsliarpenma is 0bemedf1 1 Obtallllhe. inst described result .most Simply by. tapering' theStep in. Seth. manner that, its mistress llicreasesfiqzrl. itsjiree end,toward.' its fulcruin.v The degree of; taperY will depend upon theafluarlvof. th. alie Oltlle. tivo. Cutters, but in general thetl'iickness ofthe stop will vary. from about 0.025inch fronj nearAitsfree end, to about 0.062 inch at Ya'. point'about midway along4 itslength, these guresrepresenting the thicknesses fthe realms engasedbymhepencil point at the two extremes ofY adjustment of the stop; ni theillustrated embodiment Orth@ inf vention'the stop hasten' positionswhich are spaced about 02020 inch apartin thy axialf'directionofthe''pen'cil.' I Y The stop 33is.H of arcuate form and thecurvature o fitssurface-in aplanfp 'sing through the axis of the pencilfis soVdeterminedthat Yin all positions of thestop, its lsurfaceis'substantially at :right 'mieles'` tp" 'die axis! ofjthe penbii' at thpoint Wheretlie pencil engages "stop By this construction,the'pen'cilishel v duringrthe"cuttingfdpeation, both when along andsharp point is desired, and the Stop isin'its fully retractedpositionjowhena shorter stub point is sought, when thesto'p is" in itsextreme opposite position, and also in all intermediate positions.

It Vwill be noted lthat by reason oli theengagement of the'shortr of thebelli-crank lever, 0f which the S1501? forma rrtwitliin thelspn-aigroove, in the dial,4 af `positive kicking of the stop 4 ,e. d,andthere'isno danger thatpressurewlthjh pfricilon the stop willcausedisplacementof the latter.. Also, the parts are'so constructed'andrelatedthat equal angular movements vof thedial will producesubstantially .equal displacements .ofjlthe? stop. It will b e apparentthatinplacenia .centrically' mounted ldial' having 'anfeccentric groovetherein, a reverse arrangernent couldlbe employed-5'. that is, thermalcould- ,be mounted cenaug and circular groove.

providedwith amore. 9;' nessiar1ca11vpositioned in xed position Y Inuse, the Sharpener above described has been found to provide a wellbalanced structure which prevents @breaking or splitting of the pencilandk provides better centering of the pencil with accur-atecontrol ofthe stop, device. Whether the pencil is yfed by hand or automatically byany known form of spring-controlled mechanism or the like, a uniformcutting of the pencils is obtained and chewing of the pencil is avoided.

In the mechanism hereinabove described it is necessary to remove theshavingsfreceiving casing before the dial for adjusting the stop devicecan be operated. In a fur-ther development of the invention I haveprovided a modied stop adjusting mechanism which can be controlled fromoutside the casing but which embodies lthe essential improvements of thestructure shown in Figs, 1 to, 8. rI he modified pencil Sharpenerstructure is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14. t Referring to such figures,the stop member is shown at 40 and is provided intermediate its endswith trunnions l4| .which are adapted to be received in an opentransverse groove 42, the stop member-itself passing through alongitudinal groove 43 in the frame. The frame is countersunk as shownat 44 to provide a seat for leaf spring 45, the latter being normallyretained within the countersink flush with the outer surface of theframe. The spring may be provided with a lip 46 extending at rightangles to the body of the spring and received within a notch 41 at thelef-thand end of the countersink to aid in positioning and retaining thespring within the countersink. The anchored end of the spring can besecured permanently in position by staking over or striking down themetal at the edges of the countersink. It will be understood tha-t thefree end of the leaf spring engages the shorter arm of the stop to theright of the trunnions, whereby increased leverage is provided anduniform` pressure is exerted on the stop. This construction also makespossible an easier movement of the adjusting knob to be describedhereinafter.`

The stop member 40 is adapted to be engaged by a longitudinally movablerod 41 slidable in a suitable bore in the rotating frame I4 yand in theshaft 48, such bore being located above the `cen-- tral axis of theframe to enable the rod to clear the cutters which are set at an angleto each other. The shaft 48 as threaded is shown at 49.

The operating `handle n of the sharpener is provided with a hollow hubwhich is threaded as shown at v51.1 to engage the threaded portion 49 ofthe shaft. The handle is also provided interiorly thereof with acylindrical stop which engages the end face of the first thread on theshaft 48 in such position that suilicient clearance is provided betweenthe hub of the handle andthe boss 52 onthebaSe. a to enable the handleto be rotated freely, together with the shaft and the rotating frame.

Ihe rod 41 extends for a short distance, s-ay about 0.180 of an inch,beyond the left-hand end of the shaft and bears against the surfaceof abushing ,53 which is provided upon its opposite face witha helical camsurface 54, which cooperates with a complementary helical cam surface 55at the inner end Vof a knob 5B. The bushing 53 is provided with two keys51, 58 which are rek ceived within diametrically opposite longitudinalgrooves or key-ways in the hub of the handle, the bushing being thusfree to move only longitudinally relatively to the'hub of the handle onits keys.. The knob itself is journalled in a, wash, er y59 which isY,slipped over the end of the knob and'is locked in position against theedge of the hub by staking or striking down the metal at the edge ofthehub over the outer rim of the washer. The knob is free to rotaterelatively to the Washer and is provided with an index groove 60 toindicate the adjusted position of the stop, as will be explained morefully below. i

It will be understood that the rod is normally under the pressure of thespring 45 and in the assembled position of the parts, when the stop isin its most retracted position, the end of the rod just bears againstthe face of the bushing. Upon rotation .of the knob, the cooperating camsurfaces will cause the bushing 53 to move axially inward and therebyshift'the rod to the right (Fig. 9). This will cause rotation of thestop 40 on .its trunnions and the stop will be moved toward the ri-ghtfrom an initial to a final position. In practice I Ahave found tenpositions to be a convenient number for indicating the whole range ofadjustment of the stop. As in the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 8,the thickness of the stop increases from its free end toward itsfulcrum, which takes account of the fact that the space between thecutters increases toward the right. For the reasons given above, Iprefer to make the taper on the stop correspond to the increasingdistance between the cutters in these positions, so that the clearancebetween the stop and the cutters remains substantially constant in allpositions of the stop` To indicate the different positions of the stop,I provide index numerals on the washer 59, the groove on the knobservingas a pointer to indicate the different positions of the` stop. To enablethe operator to determine the different positions of the stop, that is,to indicate to him tactually the arrival of the stop at the successivepositions, I provide a series of ten teeth 6I on a serrated collar 52 onthe knob which are adapted to mesh successively with a similar series ofcrown teeth 62 on the serrated inside face of the washer; the knob beingunder the action of the spring, the teeth will mesh with a click. Toprovide thenecessary clearance to enable the ridges of the circular rowsof crown teeth to pass each other as the stop is set at successivepositions, the washer is staked down with -a clearance between it andthe teeth on the collar 62 equivalent to about the height of the crownteeth. For this purpose a clearance of about .015" will ordinarily besuflicient. It will be noted that as the knob is set to differentpositions all of the crown teeth on the washer and on the knob will bein continuous engagement, so that the wear is reduced and binding iseliminated, and at the same time a uniform and even action is secured,which results from the fact that the helical cam surfaces engage eachother over extended distances, so that here again wear isreduced and thelife of the device increased.

The knob is provided with a stop 64 which is adapted to engage acorresponding lug or stop 65 inside the hub of the handle. The stops areso positioned that at the limit of movement in one direction the indexgroove will be opposite the number l on the washer 59 and at theopposite limit of movement it will be opposite the number I0 on theWasher.

It'will'be apparent that by operation of the knob, indexing andpositioning of the stop occur simultaneously.

l. In a' pencil Sharpener, the combination with a pair ofl rotarycutters disposed with their axes at an acute angle toeach other, of anadjustable 'Stop for the point of apencil being sharpened therein, saidVstop being positionable along vthe central axis between vvthe cuttersvandv movable transversely to-su'ch axis as its distance from theconverging ends of the cutters, andai-ny the direction of the divergingend's'the'reof, increases, 'said stop being of increasing thicknesstransversely to such central axis corresponding approximately' to theincreaserof theA clearance b'etweenthe cutters as the stop is adjustedtopositions at' increasing distances from theY converging ends ofthe-cutters', whereby the clearance between the stop andthe cutters ismaintained small and approximately constant' for 'all positions" of thestop along the central axis. y

2. A pencil Sharpener `as defined in claim 1, wherein the `Sto'p is of'arcuate forni and 'is' 'of gradually increasing'- thickness' from oneend thereof toward the other.

3'. In a pencil Sharpener, thecombination'. with a casing, a rotatableframe therein, a pair of rotary` cutters having theirV axis disposedatan acute angle to each other, said frame including a bar extendingover the cutters and spaced from' the Vcentral axis of the frame, of anadjustable stop for the point of a pencil being sharpened, said stopvbeing mounted on said-bar and being movable between the cutters,andmeans for adjusting said stopand including a rotary memberoperatively connected with said stop and disposed on said bar.

4.'A vpencil Sharpener as dened in claim 3, wherein said rotary membercomprises a `dial provided withY an eccentric'groove', and meansengaging said". groove and connected with the stop.

5. AA pencil Sharpen'eras dened in claim 3, where'inthe'rotarymember'c'omp'rises a dial hav'-l ing a series of indentationscorresponding'with the different positions o'f adjustment'of thel stop,and' aH xed pointer cooperating with thedialand provided with aprotuberance engaging vwithin the indentations. y

6L 'A pencil Sharpener as dened in claim 3, whereinl the rotary membercomprises a; dia-l hav-v ing 'a series`A of indentationscorres'pondingwith the different positions of adjustmentof the stop,and.axedpointer-cooperating with the dial and provi-'ded' with aprotuberance engaging-withinthe indentations, the pointer beingdi'spos'eizlv above the" dial and being mounted'c'oncentrically;

'7. A pencil Sharpener as defined in claim 3, wherein the rotary membercomprises a dial hav-- ing'a series of elongated, radial indentat'ion's,cor-l responding with the dinerent positions of adjustment of the' stop,i and a nxedpointer arranged above and cooperating with the dial, andprovided with an elongatedprotuberance on its underside engaging withintheY said indentations. n

8. A pencil Sharpener as defined in cla-iinA 3, wherein the rotarymember comp'rises-a-dial hav'- ingv a vseries of indentationscorresponding with the different positions of" adjustment'o'f the stop',

and a fixed pointer cooperating with-the dial and` provided withaprotuberance engaging Withinthe indentations, the pointer beingkdisposedl above thedial and beingnorma-llysprung so as tocatch into thesuccessive indentations as the dial isrotated.

9'. In a pencil Sharpener, the combination with a casing', arotatableframe therein, apair of rotary cutters mounted in the frame-forsharpening the point of a pencil, the frame includingabareXtendingover/the cutters and spaced from the surface to thepointo'f'apen at ess'iveposilliloiis'- between the 'cutters andalbngrfsad etral axis, and a ro'l'alfy'1rnerlleel'dsfsdA itefally of thecasing' and operatively" associated `withA the stop member for adjustingthe same' v'alngfsaid central axis. y

10'.A A pencil Sharpener as defined in claim 9', including a rode"'g-gth arcuate rnenb'er afnd controlled bytl rotary il'litlll. A pencil-sharpene'r as de'ned in-.claifn'f 9, including a spring normally urgingythe sto'pmeniber' into an extreme position, and cana' elementscontroll'edby the' rotary frielrlzerQ and beariigfn the rod to move'the'saznieagfinS'tI-the action of the spring.. Y

l2. A5 pe'r'icil'sl'ni'rpe'n'erV asdened' in ca'iiin"v lll-,wheeinthecanl elements''are' providedlwith coinpler'ne'ntary helioal camsr one ofthe-dani elements being mounted if raxial 'movement and heldagainst rotary movement, While' Vthe` other cani-element is securedyto-the rotary meinben 13.--A pencil Sharpener as dled in claim 9,including a serrated `disc hel'd against rotary movement, and acorrespondingly serrateddisc xed to the rotary member and engageable'with the rst disc to give a tactual indication o'f the arrival of therotary member' ats'uccessive stop positions.

1'4. A pencil Sharpener' as'- de'ii'ned in claim 9, including" stopmeans'for' limiting'me movement of theA rotar-y member.

l5. A pencil Sharpener asl def-lined iii-claim 9, wherein the stopmember'iS-ofarcuateshap'e and in the different adjusted position'sthereofpre; sen'tsv surfaces which are substantially perpendicular-tothe axis of the'pen'c'il.

16. A pencil Sharpener as dennen'v in claim 9. wherein the stopmemberpresentsdifferentthicknesses at the different positions thereof tomaintain its clearances between itself and the cutters substantiallyconstant.

17. A pencil Sharpener comprising: a base, a' frame rotatable on `thebase, 'cutters rotatably l mounted in the frame, said-'fram'ehavin'ga-sha-ft passing through the upper portion 'ofthe'base,a handleh'avingahub'threadedly engaged-with the shaft, an arcuate stop member'pivo'tedA on the frame andv movable into different positions be tweenthe cutters and' along'th'e axisfo'frotation of the frame forengagementy by the'pe'n'cil point, a rod bearing on the stop and passingthrough the shaft, an axiallyv slidable 'cam' member having a helicalcam surfaceand-.inounted `With-in the hub ofthe handle, arotatableknobclosingthe outer end of the hub and provided with a comple'- mentary camsurface bearinguponlthe Vfirst mentioned cam surface to effect axialmovement of thecam member'upon rotation of thefkfnob, a spring bearingupon the Stop member to urgethe' same into retracted position, a.stationarywasher' between the knob and the hub and provided with indexvnumeralsand a mark' o'n'l the lin-ob' co' operating with said numeralsto indicate' the successive positions' of .the'adjus'td stop.

18-.,A pencil sharpener as defir'i'edl in claim 17 wherein the rea-rSurface' of thewasher is's'errated, and a serrated collar on th'eknobandada'pted to cooperate with the serration on the' washerto giveatactual indication of the arrival ofthe rotary member intosuccessive-stop positions'.

19'. A pencil Sharpener as defined! in claim 17, wherein the. Stopymember' is of increasing! thicknessy toward its fulcrum'point'alonglthe'reg'ion centraliaxistthereof;*'foflaIstop:member mounted-75m74 whichfentersbetweenzthe cuttersfwieby S'b" stantially uniformclearance between the stop member and the cutters is maintained in allpositions of the stop member.

20. In a pencil Sharpener, the combination with a pair of rotary cuttersdisposed with their axes at an' acute angle to each other, of anadjustable stop for the point of a pencil being sharpened, said stopmember being movable both along and transversely to the central axisbetween the cutters, said stop being disposed between the cutters andbeing of increasing thickness from one end toward the other transverselyto the central axis and being so mounted that thicker portions thereofbecome disposed between the cutters as the stop" is progressively movedto positions more distant from the converging ends of the cutters and inthe direction of the diverging ends thereof, whereby the clearancebetween the stop and the cutters is maintained small and approximatelyconstant to prevent insertion of the pencil point between an edge of thestop and the adjacent cutter.

MURRY TALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

